SEELEY’S SYNETIQ SMILE

Alastair Seeley’s rejuvenated racing career shows no sign of slowing down as the North West 200’s most successful rider notched up two more wins and new lap records at this year’s event.

The 43 year old has re-entered the British Superstock 1000 fray this season and is running at the front of the pack on the Synetiq BMW. Bringing that bike and his pace to Portrush, Seeley smashed the lap record and claimed victory in both of this year’s Briggs Equipment and CP Hire Superstock races.

The former double British champion added win number 28 and a new 124.427mph lap record to his CV in the Thursday evening race, leading Davey Todd and his Milenco Padgett’s Honda home by a huge 10.3 seconds.

It also marked Seeley’s 15^th victory around the 8.9 mile Northern Ireland roads circuit with Hector and Philip Neill’s TAS Racing team, the Moneymore-based squad that had prepared his machine.

“It is a match made in heaven.” Seeley smiled.

“It’s a great team, they are a great bunch of guys with a big family atmosphere and this year we are very happy and I keep saying a happy rider is a fast rider.”

Todd, the reigning British Superstock champion, held off Michael Dunlop and his MD Racing Honda by 0.3 seconds with Dean Harrison 20 seconds further back on the DAO Racing Kawasaki.

Earlier in the evening Seeley had to settle for second to Todd as he made his debut on the Powertoolmate Ducati V2 machine in the Supersport event. The Ulsterman had the consolation of setting a new Supersport lap record at 118.066mph as he finished 0.1 second behind the Milenco Padgett’s Honda.

Seeley then lost his lap record in Saturday’s Supersport race to Peter Hickman who raised the bar to 118.273mph but he  claimed his 29^th North West win in the second Superstock contest, taking the lead on the opening lap and raising his two day old lap record to 124.484mph. He finished 0.7 seconds ahead of Michael Dunlop (MD Racing Honda) with Dean Harrison (DAO Racing Kawasaki) third.

A runner-up finish in the feature Superbike race behind Glenn Irwin topped off a brilliant week for Seeley who revelled in his victories.

“They just keep coming.” he smiled as he closes in on a 30th victory at the seaside event, double the number of the second most successful NW200 racer, the late, Robert Dunlop.